37
Chapter 37
"Three, three hundred thousand gold! Will you still follow this!"
"Number 99! Three hundred thousand and one gold!"
"Four hundred thousand gold!"
"Number 99! Four hundred thousand and one gold!"
"Five hundred thousand! Five hundred thousand gold!"
The amounts were now beginning to rise exponentially. This could no longer be called a battle of money. It was a Battle of Pride.
And I am the Demon with the most baseless confidence in the entire Demon Realm.
"Number 99! Five hundred thousand and one gold!"
As the tension rose, I found myself shouting with excitement. I could hear the surrounding Demons gasping in shock. However, I remained confident.
It's not that I have a lot of money. Even for me, who took the Northern Duke Family's assets, five hundred thousand gold is a burden. No, it's not just a burden; it's nearly my entire fortune.
But not letting that show is what makes a professional.
A Magician is one who reveals only false emotions. Although I am wearing a white Mask, emotions are not expressed through facial expressions alone.
Voice, presence, tone, and manner of speaking—all of these are tools for acting.
That is why a professional Magician never loses in a game of nerves.
Why? Because even if they're terrified, they act fearless; even if they're pressured, they act relaxed, digging into the opponent's psychology to exploit their weaknesses.
And eventually...
"You...! One million!"
The ignorant plaything falls into the Magician's trap.
"One million gold!"
And ends up calling out an amount they cannot even afford.
"Hmph! If you're so rich, then try and follow this!"
Without thinking twice.
Everyone is left speechless by the staggering amount.
Lilith alone moves her red lips with confidence.
Unaware that the bodyguard beside her is wearing a troubled expression.
"Um... My Lady? That..."
"Bodyguard, if it's not important, tell me later. Right now, I must crush this arrogant fellow..."
"It's just that, we do not currently have a sum as large as one million gold on hand. We would have to retrieve it from the main estate."
"...Really? Then just get it from the estate."
"I wish we could, but..."
A basic rule of auctions that many people forget.
"Wow, since when were auctions conducted in something other than a lump sum, Host?"
"Uh, hmmm-?"
The Host blinks, caught off guard by my sudden question. He seems worried that my question might cause a rift with Lilith.
He might lie to avoid the awkward situation. I quickly spoke up to continue the conversation.
"Aren't auctions always lump sum payments? But the other side just called an amount they don't even have on hand. I think their bidding qualifications should be disqualified. Doesn't that mean I won?"
"Hmm... Well, that may be true, but-."
"What do you mean 'but'? Just admit it and end this cleanly. Is it okay to leave it as credit? Fine then. Should I go bring the house deeds? Oh, why don't everyone here just go home and bring more money? Should we run this auction all day?"
Lilith, this young girl. Her lack of experience is digging her own grave.
"Wait, just a moment. What do you mean it must be a lump sum? How is that...."
"Ahaha, don't tell me you didn't know?"
"No one told me! How can you spout nonsense about some rule that wasn't mentioned!"
"Because it's so basic! No one imagined there would be a Demon who comes to an auction house without knowing the rules!"
In the first place, Lilith had no interest in auctions. She only came because she felt greed toward Rua, who possesses the Bloodline of the Wolf King.
I exploited that point. Lilith's pale face fills with panic at this unexpected obstacle.
What should I do? I'm so excited I want to jump around. Just like when I killed Leonard and Retavis.
I must endure.
Not yet.
I have to drive the nail in.
"Ah, then should I just step aside? According to the principles, you're immediately disqualified for breaking the rules, but I could yield to you!"
"What? You... you'd do that?"
It's a lie. That's the Organizer's authority. I am merely a participant.
However, every lie in the world is a truth as long as it isn't discovered. That absolute truth is one of the truths I utilize the most.
I must finish this while the Host is too afraid to intervene. Before my petty lie is exposed to the whole world.
"Of course! Just say the word! I'll bestow my 'Mercy' and step aside! For a lowly thing like me to 'forgive' a lady of the noble Duke family! This would be quite amusing! It puts me in the position of power and the lady in the subordinate role!"
"Gritting...!"
"You rascal! Who do you think you are to speak so insolently!"
The bodyguard shield's Lilith and snaps at me. I shrugged as if wondering what the problem was.
Flowers of wrath bloom on Lilith's face. A violent Ripple surges, distorting her beautiful features.
If she hadn't forgotten her original goal—meaning, if she had pursued efficiency.
She would have set aside a pride that couldn't be exchanged for money, quietly accepted my mercy, composed herself, and continued the auction.
But Lilith, who has already accepted this auction as a Battle of Pride.......
"Get lost! Who do you think you're offering your mercy to! Just wait until I take your head!"
Even if she loses the auction, she cannot cowardly beg for my mercy.
"Pathetic wretch! Take her! That damn wolf bitch...! You can have her all to yourself! The moment you step foot out of this auction house, I'll cut your head off first!"
"Oh my, how scary. I'm shaking all over."
The last remaining competitor has exited.
I adjusted my white Magician's Hat and stood up from my chair, feeling great.
Looking to my side, the Mister with the mustache who spoke to me earlier was observing me with an intrigued gaze.
"Ta-da-."
Leaving those low words for his gaze filled with Different Eyes, I walked steadily toward the stage, passing through dozens of rows of chairs.
As I walked, I kept hearing the sound of teeth grinding from the spectators surrounding me. Such a wonderful sound. I grinned behind my Mask.
Passing through the stairs that cut through the audience seats, I stepped onto the stage.
In the auction house where heat and passion had surged, the wolf girl, who had been the only one remaining quiet, finally looked up and locked eyes with me.
I flashed a playful V-sign to the girl who would one day be known as Wolf King Lua, then walked confidently toward the Host.
"Any- any more bids? Is there anyone else-?"
The atmosphere had already shifted entirely to me; there was no way anyone else was bidding.
"Then-! The [Bloodline of the Wolf King] is sold to customer number 99-! Congratulations-!"
"Hooray!"
My solitary cheer echoed through the chilled auction house. This wouldn't do. I hurried to reach into my coat and pull out a sack.
"You're paying right here on the spot?"
"Why wouldn't I?"
"But how can a million gold fit in that tiny sack... Hieeeek!"
Clatter-clatter-clatter!
I flipped the bag over and poured out the contents.
An uncountable rain of gold coins overflowed, flooding the floor of the stage.
Startled by my sudden action, the Host shouted at the security guards.
"Why a million gold! It's five hundred thousand and one gold! Do you happen to have dementia?"
"T-the money is just spilling everywhere! Security! Collect all of it-!"
The space-compressed sack held more gold coins than anyone could imagine. The endless golden downpour made the Demons instinctively swallow their greed-filled saliva.
And the stage was too small.
It was naturally impossible to contain all five hundred thousand gold coins I was scattering.
Clatter-clatter!
A golden wave breached the edge and swept down past the stage. Simultaneously, the Demons in the audience rose one by one and rushed toward the front.
Every single one of them had eyes clouded with greed.
Rumble-rumble!
"Keke-keke-keke."
The Host panicked. The situation descended into chaos, with gold coins and Demons tangled in a physical brawl. My wicked laughter served as the background music.
I am the agent of Chaos. Wherever I go, confusion surely follows. It's not that I do it on purpose. Chaos simply follows me. Like a frantic puppy chasing a butterfly through the sky.
Clatter-clatter!
Amidst the utter mayhem, I had scattered exactly five hundred thousand and one gold. The Demons were frantic. They were desperate to cram as many coins as possible into their pockets.
Lilith was staring at me with wide eyes. She looked shocked by my action, which defied all common sense. I guess this kind of magic show isn't to her taste? It doesn't matter. Lilith isn't the priority right now.
Greed, failure, shock, urgency. Various sudden emotions swirled through the auction house like a desert tornado.
Strolling pleasantly through the madness, I put the emptied sack back in my coat and approached the only beast whose eyes remained dead.
A beast with a human face and body, but with ears and a tail that undeniably belonged to a wolf. That beast seemed entirely uninterested in the glitter of metal decorating every side.
"Hello? I'm your new owner!"
"Grrr...."
"From now on, you'll be my assistant, my actor, my apostle, and my servant! Doesn't that sound exciting?"
"Grrr...."
"Let's exchange names later. For now, shall we get out of here?"
"Grrr...."
"Hahaha! You're quite shy, aren't you? Still, you should answer your owner when spoken to! It's okay for now! Manners are things you can learn!"
What a prickly little thing. I spoke kindly to her, yet she doesn't give me a single word in return. How utterly ungrateful.
Thanks to you, I'm the only one feeling awkward, you cheeky brat.
The eyes of the Demons darted here and there. Their attention shifted and their focus scattered. In that chaos, I secretly untied the cloak I had been wearing.
"You rascal! What are you trying to do!"
Lilith, one of the few who remained focused on me amidst the wave of gold, screams. Simultaneously, a crimson aura gathers in her hand, raised high.
One of the top powers in the Demon Realm, the Authority of a Succubus: Blood of the Defeated. The remnants of the dead that Succubuses have slain now target me.
I quickly threw the wide, white cloak over the cage where the wolf girl and I were trapped. The pure white fabric fluttered down and settled over us.
"Do not play tricks! Now that you have caught my eye, you will not escape death! La-Cse-Bianca-!"
The red sentence written in blood falls upon me. Transforming into a streak of light, it closed the distance in the blink of an eye. The crimson sphere rushed in, intending to lock me and Rua—specifically me—into a state of total immobility.
To put it nicely, it's immobility; in reality, it's no different from being in a vegetative state. The thought of spending a lifetime being fed porridge by a Succubus is horrific, and I doubt Lilith would even take care of me.
"You might feel a bit dizzy. You're a good wolf, so you can bear it, right? You can't stand dizziness? Who cares!"
For a brief moment, our outlines were hidden by the fluttering cloak.
I pulled a Teleport Scroll from my pocket and shouted loudly.
"Today's show is called [Escape Magic]!"
As loud as I possibly could, with all my might.
"A show where the prisoner escapes the violent clutches of the noble Lady Lilith!"
Pop-!
Then, the scene shifted from a dazzling yellow light to a cute, vibrant green.
The wolf girl and I had arrived in a lush forest that had no connection whatsoever to where we were a moment ago.
The Demon Beast Forest, we've arrived.
*****
I'm scared.
I'm terrified.
My legs ache.
This feels strange.
I'm dizzy.
Everything is dark.
Who are you?
Where are you taking me?
Save me.
You wicked and loathsome Demon.
Please, save me.
I am the King, the King of Wolves.
If you save me now, I will not kill you.
Before the Full Moon rises, save me.